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Pandemic Flu Budget
First Minister's Question Time
12:00 pm
Jackie Baillie (Labour)
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will revisit plans to remove £10 million from the Scottish pandemic flu budget in light of concerns expressed regarding the potential rate of influenza A (H1N1). (S3F-2829)
Rt Hon Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party)
Jackie Baillie has not done herself any favours in the way she has raised this issue during the past two weeks. As she is well aware, the £10 million was for a flu pandemic. We have a serious flu issue in Scotland at the moment—as, indeed, they have elsewhere in the United Kingdom—but we do not have a pandemic. If the circumstances change in the next year, we will handle them as the health secretary handled things when we did have a pandemic in Scotland.
As far as possible, such issues should be handled by a united Parliament and chamber. Even the sternest critics of this Administration would probably concede the that Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and our outstanding health service handled last year's flu pandemic with great efficiency and skill. I gently remind Jackie Baillie that our preparedness for this year's seasonal flu outbreak, in the supply and availability of vaccine, for example, seems to be somewhat more robust than it is elsewhere.
Jackie Baillie (Labour)
I associate myself with the First Minister's comments about the NHS because it has pulled out all the stops to deal with flu. I am sure that the First Minister will also agree that we need to avoid any complacency in dealing with H1N1 flu strains in future years. He will, of course, be aware that flu viruses can mutate, that vaccines might need to be varied, and that vaccine stocks might need to be increased to deal with the situation.
Will any contingency budget be available if the £10 million is removed? Is the First Minister aware of the increasing concern that was highlighted by England's chief medical officer about mortality rates among people with co-infection, particularly group A streptococcal infection and meningococcal disease? What contingency plans does the Scottish Government have in place to deal with that?
Rt Hon Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party)
We have a full preparatory contingency to deal with that along with the preparatory budget, which remains in place. As Jackie Baillie is well aware, we are not talking about this year's budget for seasonal flu preparedness, but about a contingency budget for the purchase of vaccine in the event of a pandemic.
There are a number of reasons why we do not invoke such a budget if we are not in a pandemic,
I recognise and welcome the fact that we have unity in our praise for our health service, our health service workers, NHS 24 and the doctors, nurses and chemists of Scotland for the way in which they are handling the current flu situation in Scotland.
Murdo Fraser (Conservative)
The First Minister will be aware of the calls from some parents for vaccination of all young children against flu—a call that does not, however, have scientific or medical support. Where does the Scottish Government stand on the issue?
Rt Hon Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party)
We follow the expert advice of the relevant committee, and both health departments north and south of the border follow the same advice. Such judgments are always difficult to make, but in the circumstances, to follow the best medical advice of the committee that has been established to give that advice seems to be the sensible and proper thing to do.